Women's Body Image

[bayouguy]

loveandhealth - Dr. Joy explores the impact that body image can have on sexuality. 
For more information on love and health, or to read a full transcript of this video, visit http://www.loveandhealth.info

[baby_doll]

((first post ever woot!))
i already mention how much i really like this video. I can relate to the majority of the things she says, and I'm sure I'm not the only female on the board who does. I really like how she makes suggestions to help encourage woman to think more positively about themselves, I know I'm going to try a few out (not that I don't already dance in my room when i'm by myself anyway hehe  )
My only negative comment that I think she's had a little to much botox and/or surgery around teh old face and she's giving a talk on body image and how your fine the way you are, just a little bit hypocritical in mine eyes 



Congratulations on your first ever post to Orgasmanic
I hope this is the first of many more to come     bayouguy

[bayouguy]

The Media's Influence on Body Image


Are the girls and women we see in the media as perfect in appearance as we are led to believe? Do these "perfect" females truly exist? Do they set an appropriate and obtainable example for girls and women to follow? If not, what are the consequences of not being able to live up to the ideals they create?

Read and view the video's and pics for much more information about body image.

http://www.the-clitoris.com/n_html/bodyimage.htm

A sample video - transformation of a super model

[hikeupyourskirt]

((first post ever woot!))
My only negative comment that I think she's had a little to much botox and/or surgery around teh old face and she's giving a talk on body image and how your fine the way you are, just a little bit hypocritical in mine eyes 

Good observation, I was thinking exactly the same thing...

[Sarah]

The Media's Influence on Body Image


Are the girls and women we see in the media as perfect in appearance as we are led to believe? Do these "perfect" females truly exist? Do they set an appropriate and obtainable example for girls and women to follow? If not, what are the consequences of not being able to live up to the ideals they create?

Read and view the video's and pics for much more information about body image.

http://www.the-clitoris.com/n_html/bodyimage.htm

A sample video - transformation of a super model

Good post!

I always think about how women are seen as the "beautiful" sex. But I believe that men and women are equally beautiful. And actually, their facial beauty is not that different when you take makeup, clothes, hair etc. out of the picture.

Oftentimes I hear guy friends saying stuff like "She's so hot, but looks so different without makeup" And it's like HELLO!?! What do you think makeup is for? To make you appear to be prettier than you really are!
Every single model, every single actress, all look like normal people without all the makeup and hair done. Most people are completely blown away that models look like normal women without makeup, and Celeb magazines THRIVE on people's interest on female celebs with no makeup.

That video you posted is great. Dove's Self esteem campaign is awesome, take a look at this video. It's one of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/v/321Kb8pBu5s

All ya have to do is post the link and the vid automatically embeds *Sam

[Superaverageman]

Read and view the video's and pics for much more information about body image.

http://www.the-clitoris.com/n_html/bodyimage.htm

Great link! I thought that I had looked at that page before, but nope. Every time I see something like this, it shocks the hell out of me. The media manipulates images, uses makeup and lighting to create the illusion of perfection - this part I'm well aware of. What surprises me is how often it happens and how I'm often unaware of it. I hate thinking that my perception of beauty is being altered without me being aware of it. I'm a big Harry Potter fan (of the movies anyways!), but I never would have guessed that Emma Watson's breasts were edited to make them look larger on that DVD cover. She's supposed to be a fucking kid! It just seems so wrong to me.

Modern high resolution imagery captures greater detail than was possible in the past, allowing the smallest detail to become obvious to the naked eye. In addition, the camera tends to emphasize "imperfections," especially when a flash or bright lights are utilized. As a result, makeup and special camera techniques are frequently required to allow women to appear "natural" on film, or in electronic media. These factors should be taken into consideration when viewing the images on this web page, and in the media in general.

This is a good point, but for me there's more to it than this. In photos, a bit of makeup can make people look more perfect, but in real life, makeup makes people look fake to me. I feel a little guilty saying that because I know how much effort most women put into their appearance, but that's how I feel. I love the natural beauty of a women's face, so my opinion is: why paint over perfection? If makeup makes a woman feel more comfortable or confident, I guess that's a good thing in a way, but I think it's unfortunate that so many women feel the need to put on makeup every time they leave the house. Just to be clear, I'm not blaming women for this either, many people in society expect it of women from what I gather. While doing a bit of reading on this subject today, I found an interesting quote: "I never got into wearing makeup, and it's amazing how many doctors have asked me if I was depressed during my first visit, since I had a bare face. There is something wrong with society when a normal woman can't keep a bare face without people worrying she's depressed."

The advertising images in popular magazines are created solely to sell merchandise. They are designed to motivate the viewer to buy the products and brand names presented. Girls, teens, and women want to look like the models they see in these images. They don't want to look like the girl next door, they want to look and be perfect. They are compelled by social pressures to buy the merchandise that will allow them to look like these young, attractive, popular, glamorous, and sexy women.

My sister once told me that she lost her makeup bag, and she was pretty upset about it. I didn't quite understand why it was such a big deal at first until she told me it had "about 700 dollars worth of makeup" in it. I was floored - 700 bucks on makeup! She's a naturally beautiful, intelligent, sensitive, fun, and generally awesome person. She's very well educated about women's issues and corporate greed, but she's still extremely insecure about how she looks. I believe this is largely due to the media image of women, and it really bothers me that good people are being turned into victims so that corporations can profit off them. The media does not have our best interests at heart - its primary concern is the interest of its advertisers. Yay capitalism.

I tend to be extremely anti-corporate, so I like to use the analogy that corporations are very similar to criminal organizations. In the same way that governments and law enforcement will continue to lose the drug war because the cartels have way more money to spend on it, it's extremely difficult for ordinary people to resist buying into the media and advertising when that industry spends billions of dollars in order to get our money. I wasn't able to find an exact figure, but global ad spending was in the neighborhood of 500 billion dollars in 2008. As I see it, the only way for people to compete with that is to avoid advertising and negative types of media where possible. I've stopped watching TV, which was pretty easy since most of it is garbage anyways, and the good shows are available on DVD. I was once a big fan of Maxim men's magazine, but I think it was having a negative impact on me. There's definitely some good content, but it also pushes you to be a certain kind of guy - the guy who has to have the newest sunglasses, expensive watch, designer clothes, gas-guzzling car; the guy who drinks lots of beer and thinks that women stop being attractive after 25. I imagine that women's magazines push certain products and stereotypes on women in the same way, so who needs them?

Young people should also be taught to be more critical of advertising and the media too. It's not just aimed at selling things directly to kids, but also "to catch them as a child so you have them as an adult" (paraphrasing an ad executive that I saw in the movie "The Corporation").

Hopefully that was a somewhat relevant rant... I've been looking for a group around where I live that's involved in anti-corporate activism, and haven't been able to find one... so sometimes the need to vent about it comes out in ways that are out of my control!

[marimeg]

I agree that the media influences everyone to a certain degree but I can't agree with the anti-corporate movement, I like my stuff cheap, readily available and priced well. Handmade things and actual craftmanship is beautiful but the prices shoot up when you have artisans doing the work.

On to body image! It is something that I struggle with daily. I've grown up, like many girls before me, with barbie dolls, teen magazines later in life, and I grew up through the nineties. Land of drug addict thin models wearing sacks that are size 0 and still don't fit right. I know we all went through this but looking back, -those- were the images that were shown to me everywhere. Those images with a girl who has always been plump.. it's unrealistic to even -begin- to imagine being able to see my ribs like those models.

And who would want to, anyway? Looking at it from a sexual perspective that is slowing being morphed into something positive by this site and maturing, I would -never- want to be that thin. Thinner? hell yes, I have some improving to do, but I would never want to be so thin I have to worry about hurting myself while enjoying myself. For any potential boyfriends I may have, I don't want to be having sex and thinking, "damn I'm gonna have bruises." because I know i have the padding to accommodate..

As for the make up bag thing, I can sympathize with your sister,  superaverageman. And I think there is another angle you're missing in it. YES there is most certainly an insecurity there, but it is also common sense for a woman to -have- their make-up on. It's a layer of confidence, part of a daily routine that we go through .. kind of a mask to show the world. Not because we think we're ugly or anything, but because we know well dressed, well made up women get further in day to day life. Horribly sexist? Probably. True? Definitely.

A relative of mine had a quote, "Never go out without your face on, you never know what you'll meet." Of course she was talking about guys.. and she dated well into her eighties. She was right. You never know what situation you'll face from day to day. You never know who you'll meet or what you'll do, therefore being prepared at least in appearance is crucial. No one wants to date a slob, even the most naturally beautiful slob there is

[marimeg]

http://zenhabits.net/2009/02/10-ways-to-beat-the-cant-get-no-satisfaction-syndrome/

Worthwhile site to read.

[Superaverageman]

http://zenhabits.net/2009/02/10-ways-to-beat-the-cant-get-no-satisfaction-syndrome/

Worthwhile site to read.

Great link! I'm slowly working on many of these items while recovering from a lengthy battle with depression, but there are some things on there that I'll need to try or improve upon for sure. Thanks for posting this.

I agree that the media influences everyone to a certain degree but I can't agree with the anti-corporate movement, I like my stuff cheap, readily available and priced well.

(I'll try not to derail this thread for too long, but it's a complicated and important issue, so here goes.) I know EXACTLY what you mean, I felt this way for a very long time. As I mentioned briefly in my previous post, my sister was quite the activist when she was in university. She was very anti-corporate, but I didn't understand what the problem was. When she'd talk to me about it, it always seemed like she was making a big deal about nothing. To me, the corporate system just made sense - these companies employ huge numbers of people, the product quality is pretty decent most of the time, and prices are low because it all runs so efficiently.

That changed once I saw The Corporation. It's easily the best documentary I've ever watched, and it's chilling - everyone needs to watch this film. Since then I've also read No Logo, a great book by Naomi Klein about branding and the anti-corporate movement - it's quite a tome, well worth reading. I've watched a couple other documentaries on the subject, and I try to keep up to date on current issues, but honestly it's hard to stay motivated about it sometimes.

There's so much that's going on behind the scenes that we don't hear about. The media has an interest in preserving the image of these corporations because they don't want to lose advertising dollars. On the news, you don't hear about things like Monsanto buying up all the major seed companies to build a GMO-only worldwide monopoly on the major seed crops (soy beans, corn, cotton to name a few), to the point where indigenous non-GMO crops (which have worked fine for thousands of years) are in danger getting wiped out. I could probably write 50 pages just on Monsanto alone, the things that company is doing and has done are unbelievable.

Probably the biggest problem with corporations is that they are concerned only about making money. It doesn't matter who or what  has to suffer; the environment, its own employees, customers - most of the major corporations will sacrifice anything in the name of profit. As an example, while we're getting low prices here for merchandise, people in countries like China are paid starvation wages making the stuff we buy. I wasn't able to find a link on this, but the numbers are pretty crazy too... as a rough estimate, workers might get paid 12¢ to make a shirt that sells here for $70 (sounds like an exaggeration, but those figures are probably not far off the mark). Even if there's a risk of getting caught and prosecuted, they usually make more money by unethical or illegal business practices than they pay in court settlements when their transgressions become public.

Ok, I better stop... I do so love to rant about this stuff though! Man, that was just way, way off topic for a masturbation and sexuality site... lol  Anyways, here are a couple random links on the subject in case anyone's interested:
The 10 Worst Corporations of 2008
Profile on Wal-Mart - Scrolling through the large Alerts section is scary...

As for the make up bag thing, I can sympathize with your sister,  superaverageman. And I think there is another angle you're missing in it. YES there is most certainly an insecurity there, but it is also common sense for a woman to -have- their make-up on. It's a layer of confidence, part of a daily routine that we go through .. kind of a mask to show the world. Not because we think we're ugly or anything, but because we know well dressed, well made up women get further in day to day life. Horribly sexist? Probably. True? Definitely.

There are probably many angles I'm missing on it! I've never worn makeup a day in my life, or lived as a women to completely understand the pressures they face. This is why I love hearing about what women like you think about these things, so thanks for your sharing your views and experiences! You've definitely given me some things to think about with your post.

[bayouguy]

Getting back on the topic with an article that has some points dealing with Body Image

The "Perfect Body" Myth

Better sex is only a few pounds away

Readers Digest,  January 2008

When asked to rate themselves as "YUCK" OR "HOT"  14% of women and 20% of men chose "HOT"  --  More than 25% of women chose "YUCK",  just 13% of men did.

   It's that time of year again, when men replay the "Victoria's secret Fashion Show" or thumb through the "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit issue while their women sit nearby feeling lousy about their postholiday weight gain.  These models have set the new standard for sexiness: large, pert (and often surgically enhanced) breast, a microscopic waist and perfectly sculpted, cellulite-free hips and thighs.

   Thanks to pop culture icons, American women think that having a body like five-nine, 119-pound Heidi Klum's is the answer to a sizzling and sexy relationship.  When Readers Digest asked women when they feel sexiest, they said it was when they weighed less than they do now.  In fact, 80 percent said that losing weight would improve their sex life (among women who consider themselves obese, it jumps to 95 percent).  Men showed insecurities too.  A whopping 70 percent think a slimmer waistline would lead to better sex, and 42 percent said they would go shirtless only in front of their partner.

   But here's the big disconnect:  Despite idealized images, guys really don't expect (or even want) their wives or girlfriends to be super thin, and women aren't looking for Brad Pitt in their beds.  Yes, overweight people are having good sex.  They know what researchers and scientists are beginning to uncover:  A great sexual experience comes mostly from our minds, not from perfectly porportioned bodies.

   In fact, striving to look like a lingerie model may be a sexual turnoff.  The average body mass index (BMI) of those models is an unhealthy and underweight 17.  Women with a BMI of 18.5 are less likely to conceive, and they suffer a drop in hormones that contribute to libido.  So that smnoldering stork-like mnodel may look phenomenal in the pages of fashion magazines - but may not be a firecracker in bed.

Extra Pounds Can Be Sexy

   Overweight adults are not only having lots of sex, the're also getting extreme enjoyment out of it, says Martin Blinks, PhD, director of behavioral health at the Diet & Fitness Center at Duke University.  Brinks's study subjects are trying to drop pounds and probably should for health reasons.  But what's remarkable is that the biggest improvment in their sex lives came when they lost just 10 percent of their body weight.
That's a very minimal weight loss, and these people were still substantially overweight, he says.

   Still, after a year of dieting, participants who had felt sexually unatractive went from 68 percent to 26 percent.  All this goes to show that sex is more about attitude than weight, says Blinks.

   In addition to having a more positive body image, people who've lost weight have more energy and feel more comffortable communicating with a partner about sexual techniques, fantasies, and feelings.

   Having meaningful sex induces the release of the hormone oxytocin.  It makes a person feel love and empathy, says noted heart surgeon Mehmet C Oz, MD, co-author of the "you" series of health books.  Meaningful sex can also lower blood pressure, and it tells the gut not to send signals to the brain to eat.  Bottom line:  A healthy sex drive can lead to weight loss.

   There's an emotional link too:  It makes sense that women who are feeling very full are less interested in sex, says Sonya Satinsky, project coordinator for the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University.  One possible explanation, she says, goes back to having bad feelings about their body, leading to a lack of desire.

Men Worry Too

   Women aren't the only ones who are misguided about weight and sex.  Men are increasingly dissatisfied with their bodies. Some want to be thinner, but most want to be more muscular, and they are increasingly attempting to bulk up.

   By some accounts, the rate of steroid use among adolescent boys is now comparable to the rate of anorexia and bulimia among adolescent girls.  No wonder, since boys are being targeted with images of hairless, V-shaped Adonises in firness magazines and on-screen.

Laws of Attraction

   Throught history, having a fit and healthy body helped humans find a mate and reproduce successfully.  Centries ago, certain femal traits (youth, a small waist, big breast) indicated fertility.  In turn, certain male traits (broad shoulders, dominance, good provider) indicated his ability to protect and care for mother and child.

   Evolutionary psychologist, says men are actually not concerned about a woman's weight: the're attracted first and foremost to an hourglass shape, wich in most cases means a waist that is 70 percentas wide as a woman's hips, regardless of dress size, it's the proportion that's a sign of high ferlity.

But research suggests different cultures have different standards.    Guys in Mediterranean countries like Spain and Portugal, wich are less affluent and still developing in many ways, consider larger women with curves extremely desirable.  This may explain why Latin American men go gaga over divas with well endowed bottoms, like Jennifer Lopex.  In most traditional societies, people who are able to put on body fat are rich and can afford to buy food.

   Men who's ancestors hail from regions where food was scarce year-round or seasonally (like parts of africa) find heavier women very fertile and therefore sexy.

   When given a choice, women do prefer men with broad shoulders and a thin waist, according to a 2006 study.  But physique is not that crucial.  When women are looking for someone to settle down with, they start focusing on other important things.  Is he going to be a good provider?  Is he a reliable guy?  Does he want the same things she does?

   For both sexes, the real key to attraction may lie due north.  The face is a stronger predictor of sexiness than the body.  In a recent study,  people rated digital photos of faces and clothed bodies to determine which one figured more strongly into overall attractiveness.  Women thought a man's face accounted for nearly half of his overall attractiveness.  For men, the face was an even stronger predictor of sexiness.  The theory, according to experts, The face reveals intelligence, personality and confidence level. - all things that increase the odds of a great sexual relationship much more than a smaller pant or dress size. 

Personality Counts

   If Queen Latifah doesn't think she's sexy, she sure does a good job of fooling us.  she carries herself like she's a babe, and a lot of men think she is.

   Once we got to know a person, the non-physical aspects become much more important in long-term relationships and pleasurable sex.  Still, this is one area of study in which scientists may never have absolute understanding.  Even after all the studies I've done, I still find myself thinking about what attracts me to someone else, and I don't really have an answer.  We've always assumed there's one type of person that we always go for, but that isn't the case.  We see a mydriad of people in our everyday lives, and we're attracted to different people at different timnes for different reasons.  There is a part of attraction that should remain shrouded in mystery.

   After all, a bit of mystery can make sex a lot more fun.

 

[bayouguy]

An interesting article with some references on topic

Sex Is Natural. So Why Are So Many People So Bad at It?

http://www.alternet.org/sex/129692/sex_is_natural._so_why_are_so_many_people_so_bad_at_it_/?page=entire

The more highly aroused we are, the better sex should feel: "You should not have anything in your vagina unless it feels fabulous." She advises us to check ourselves out with a mirror at various stages of fullness to see what she means.

"We still have ... a sort of 1950s mentality -- a strong religious and moral code -- which says that below-the-waist and above-the-knees is something that should be disavowed,"

"We have to accept ourselves for what we are and what we're not," Jensen says. "We always think we're distinct and separate, but we all have the same fears and need for love and acceptance."

Back in Winston's Maps class, our commonality is clear, but how much we all differ is brought squarely home when she shows a series of photos of vulvas.

Sounds funny, but despite ownership, most women don't really see tons of vaginas -- even for a good look at our own we need a mirror and a miner's helmet.

If we see them in porn, they're either manicured or busy -- not quite the comparison we need in the real world.

The differences are profound and lovely -- some are drapey and flowerlike, some have bigger labia, some are spare and simple, and frankly there are more hair variations than at the Westminster dog show.

Vulva Gallery

http://www.the-clitoris.com/y/vulva/m_vulva.htm

http://www.the-clitoris.com/y/vulva2/thumb008.htm

http://www.the-clitoris.com/y/vulva2/thumb009.htm

http://www.the-clitoris.com/y/vulva2/thumb010.htm

http://www.the-clitoris.com/y/vulva2/thumb011.htm



 
 

[bayouguy]

Why American Women Are Alone When They Don't Want to Be

beauty is appreciated in art, literature and nature. Why not in our own selves?

And it does not mean we must necessarily even be pretty. We just have to think we are. Or that we must conform to the women's magazines ideals of beauty or that we must buy into the Hollywood nonsense of nip and tuck and Botox and airbrush--

[bayouguy]

Another example of the way the media plays a big part in body image.

Yes some women resort to labiaplasty because their naughty bits don't look like the ones in magazines

 

LABIAPLASTY HUNGRY BEAST: EP 14

please comment on this topic
 

[bayouguy]

Ad appearing in Women's Day magazine'

Another example of how the advertising media influences body image of women

Hey Ladies, Want a Raise? Wash Your Vagina -- Women's Day Magazine's Ultra-Sexist Ad

http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/147991/hey_ladies%2C_want_a_raise_wash_your_vagina_--_women%27s_day_magazine%27s_ultra-sexist_ad/